“The Lord your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy,He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy. Zephaniah 3:17

• Your God => God is personal and related God.
• God is victorious God => Victory from all your struggles and challenges, ultimately from death.
• God is the reason for joy and peace.
• God joins when you rejoice; God’s children brings joy in His face.
• The reason for rejoicing and joyful noise is God’s presence.
• Warrior = gibbôr (mighty, hero) – This term is used in military activities to recognize a person performed heroic activities. God is a victorious warrior, and more for sure, He is the victorious warrior. (ʾēl gibbôr Isa. 9:6; Isa. 10:21)
• Reasons for joy: He is the prince of peace, no more combat; God brings justice and righteousness.
• God rejoices with us – shows an intimate God withs us “Zephaniah thus sings the prelude to the cross kind of love Jesus reveals, a love that “surpasses knowledge” (Eph 3:19). How can this not cause God’s people to praise! “Surely, the greatest reason for them to offer praise is found here. They are to rejoice in Him because He, their gracious King and Savior, rejoice in them.”^[1]

Silence Love

• Love of God is quiet (silence), and it expresses by shouting joy. “salvation is called an eternal rest and an eternal praising of God. And in this rejoicing, the whole Church is to have a part.”^[2]
• God’s silent love is similar to a loving mother soothes a crying child until it is quiet. ^[3]
• Silent love denotes love “deeply felt” => even though it is silent, it is a loud demonstration of one’s love. ^[4]

God rejoices over with shout of joy.

• Lively and affecting manner.
• Shouting joy is an expression of overflowing joy from the heart.
• He shouts with us => we are not alone.
• Some occasions of joy in heaven => Repentance, salvation, expression of love.
• Joy is the sense or state of gladness or happiness that people experience through their relationship with God and through good things in their lives. ^[5]
• God rejoices in the well-being and faithfulness of his covenant people, and in the repentance and conversion of sinners. He brings joy to his people, who rejoice in his presence and faithfulness. ^[6]
  • God is the source of joy (Ps 37:4 See also 1Sa 2:1; Ne 1:11; 12:43; Isa 61:10; Jn 15:11; Php 4:4)
  • God rejoices in the restoration of his people (Jer 32:41, Isa 62:4-5 God rejoices as does a bridegroom; Isa 65:19; Jer 31:20 God rejoices as does a father; Zep 3:17)
  • Joy can be found in the heavenly presence of God (1Ch 16:27)
    • At creation: Job 38:4-7; Pr 8:30-31, Lk 15:7 over sinners who repent
  • Causes of God’s joy
    • His own works Jer 9:24
    • His chosen servant Mt 12:18; Isa 42:1; Heb 1:9; Ps 45:7
    • Jesus Christ Mt 3:17 pp Mk 1:11 pp Lk 3:22; Mt 17:5
    • The restored temple Hag 1:8
    • His people and their worship Ps 149:4-9 See also Ps 69:30-31
    • Repentance Dt 30:9
    • Obedience, honesty and integrity 1Sa 15:22; Pr 12:22 See also 1Ch 29:17; Ps 147:10-11; Pr 11:1,20 ^{[7] [8]}